Going into the final chapter of Champions League group stage matches, many still harbour hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
Manchester United passed up the opportunity to secure their spot in the last-16 and Group H will go down to the wire. There was better news for Chelsea as they round of Group E with a dead rubber having already sealed top spot.
So what are the permutations for each of the eight groups ahead of next week’s fixtures… and in some cases, why might it be better to AVOID reaching top spot and instead plump for second?
Bayern are one of the teams already through, but there is still plenty to play for in some groups
Group A
Fixtures – December 9: Bayern (13 points) vs Lokomotiv Moscow (3), Salzburg (4) vs Atletico (6)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, European champions Bayern have already booked their place in the knockout stages as group winners, but it’s still all to play for between Atletico Madrid and Salzburg, while Lokomotiv Moscow cannot make it through.
Therefore, Atletico travelling to Austria to face Salzburg is a huge game. If they avoid defeat, they’ll go through, and if they lose they will head into the Europa League.
Salzburg, meanwhile, will go through if they beat Atletico, will finish third if they draw and Lokomotiv don’t beat Bayern.
Atletico Madrid conceded late against Bayern yesterday, meaning they still need a result
Group B
Fixtures – December 9: Real Madrid (7) vs Borussia Monchengladbach (8), Inter (5) vs Shakhtar (7)
It’s looking very precarious for two huge clubs in Real Madrid and Inter Milan, with both teetering on the edge and very much in with a chance of crashing out on their final matchday on December 9.
Real host group leaders Borussia Monchengladbach, and they’ll go through if they win, or if they draw and Inter beat Shakhtar. Here’s where it gets slightly more complicated, though… they will WIN the group if they win and Shakhtar don’t… but they could also finish FOURTH if they and Shakhtar both lose. All to play for.
Inter, meanwhile, will go through if they win against Shakhtar and Madrid lose to Monchengladbach. If they don’t win, though, it’s a guaranteed fourth-placed finish and Antonio Conte will be at risk of losing his job.
Real Madrid are teetering on the brink of going out of the Champions League after latest loss
Group C
Fixtures – December 9: Olympiacos (3) vs Porto (10), Man City (13) vs Marseille (3)
It’s a very simple one down in Group C, where Manchester City are guaranteed to go through as winners, while Porto are already through as runners-up.
Ahead of the last round of fixtures, all that’s really left to play for is a Europa League spot between Olympiacos and Marseille. Essentially, the Greek side will nick it as long as Marseille don’t pick up more points than they do, due to their head-to-head away goals superiority. Simple!
Man City only drew at Porto yesterday but they are still through as the winners of Group C
Group D
Fixtures – December 9: Ajax (7) vs Atalanta (8), Midtjylland (1) vs Liverpool (12)
There’s a fair amount already tied up down in Group D too, with Liverpool safe and sound as winners. It’s then a straight shootout between Ajax and Atalanta, who play each other in a mouth-watering tie in Amsterdam.
If Ajax win, they take second spot… if Atalanta win, it’s theirs. It’s advantage Atalanta, though, given that a draw will take them through as they’re a point ahead going into the match. Midtjylland, I’m afraid to say, can’t get off rock bottom.
Liverpool how won their group but it’s all to play for between Ajax and Atalanta below them
Group E
Fixtures – December 8: Chelsea (13) v Krasnodar (4), Rennes (1) v Sevilla (10)
This group is now done and dusted with Chelsea topping the group after their 4-0 win against Sevilla, the other side in this pool to already have qualified.
Rennes’ worse head-to-head record with Krasnodar means there is little drama forthcoming ahead of the final round of matches.
This is exactly how Frank Lampard and his players will have wanted it.
While Manchester United continue to fight tooth and nail to progress, Chelsea can take advantage of their secured passage and rest some of their stars for the final game.
Chelsea secured top spot in Group E after a demolition job inspired by Olivier Giroud in Seville
Group F
Fixtures – December 8: Lazio (9) v Club Brugge (7), Zenit (1) v Borussia Dortmund (10)
Oh boy, this is another big one. Dortmund and Lazio put it all on the line and ended up sharing the spoils, leaving one point between them ahead of the final round.
A Dortmund win would have guaranteed top spot but in the end they were able to progress with a draw. They need to better Lazio’s result next week to top the group.
Lazio, who stay second, will go through if they beat Brugge next up.
Brugge will have been buoyed by the draw in Germany because it means they head to Rome with a chance of the last-16. It’s win or bust for the Belgians at the Stadio Olimpico.
Win and they are through, lose and it’s the Europa League spot gained for finishing third.
Borussia Dortmund and Lazio played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in Germany on Wednesday night
Group G
Fixtures – December 8: Barcelona (15) v Juventus (12), Dynamo Kiev (1) v Ferencvaros (1)
Another simple one down in Group G with one round of games left.
As you would perhaps expect, both Barcelona and Juventus are safely packing their bags and heading to the knockout stages, while Ferencvaros and Dynamo Kiev are left to scrap it out for the Europa League.
Barcelona comfortably beat Ferencvaros and face a final round showdown with Juventus. It should be Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo after all.
Third place comes down to the final day, next Tuesday, with both Dynamo Kiev and Ferencvaros on one point apiece.
It’s been far from plain sailing for Ronald Koeman in LaLiga but Barcelona are flying in Europe
Group H
Fixtures – December 8: Leipzig (9) v Man United (9), PSG (9) v Istanbul Başakşehir (3)
This is it, the big one, the main event.
Still very much all to play for in an intriguing Group H after Manchester United were dramatically beaten by PSG at Old Trafford.
United began the night dreaming of securing top spot but United’s defeat, PSG’s win and Leipzig’s win means all three sides have nine points ahead of the final round of games.
Istanbul Basaksehir, meanwhile, are out with just three points and so the odds are in PSG’s favour of topping the group.
Three teams vying for one spot in the last 16 on the final matchday next Tuesday is the perfect narrative to see out the group stage. United had it in their grasp but let it slip and they have a tricky task ahead in Leipzig. A draw will be enough, however, and United won the reverse fixture 5-0 in October.
PSG’s victory at Old Trafford means there is still all to play for in Group H for three clubs